Cabin air compressor heat housing

ABSTRACT

A cabin air compressor heat housing for a cabin air compressor assembly includes a compressor inlet extending from a body of the cabin air compressor heat housing. The cabin air compressor heat housing also includes an add-heat valve interface extending transversely from the compressor inlet. The cabin air compressor heat housing further includes a diffuser actuator interface formed in the body of the cabin air compressor heat housing. A ratio of a diameter of the compressor inlet to a diameter of the diffuser actuator interface is between 1.90 and 1.98.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to aircraft environmentalcontrol. More specifically, the subject disclosure relates to a heathousing of a cabin air compressor for an aircraft environmental controlsystem.

Environmental control systems (ECSs) are utilized on various types ofaircraft for several purposes, such as in cooling systems for theaircraft. For example, components of an ECS may be utilized to removeheat from various aircraft lubrication and electrical systems and/orused to condition aircraft cabin air. A cabin air conditioner includesone or more cabin air compressors (CACs) which compress air entering thesystem, from an outside source or from a ram air system. The compressedair is delivered to an environmental control system to bring it to adesired temperature and delivered to the aircraft cabin. After passingthrough the cabin, the air is typically exhausted to the outside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, a cabin air compressor heat housing includes acompressor inlet extending from a body of the cabin air compressor heathousing. The cabin air compressor heat housing also includes an add-heatvalve interface extending transversely from the compressor inlet. Thecabin air compressor heat housing further includes a diffuser actuatorinterface formed in the body of the cabin air compressor heat housing. Aratio of a diameter of the compressor inlet to a diameter of thediffuser actuator interface is between 1.90 and 1.98.

According to another aspect, a cabin air compressor assembly includes acabin air compressor heat housing coupled to a cabin air compressorhousing. The cabin air compressor heat housing includes a compressorinlet extending from a body of the cabin air compressor heat housing.The cabin air compressor heat housing also includes an add-heat valveinterface extending transversely from the compressor inlet. The cabinair compressor heat housing further includes a diffuser actuatorinterface formed in the body of the cabin air compressor heat housing. Aratio of a diameter of the compressor inlet to a diameter of thediffuser actuator interface is between 1.90 and 1.98.

According to a further aspect, a method of installing a cabin aircompressor heat housing in a cabin air compressor assembly includescoupling a cabin air compressor heat housing to a cabin air compressorhousing of the cabin air compressor assembly. The cabin air compressorheat housing includes a compressor inlet extending from a body of thecabin air compressor heat housing. The cabin air compressor heat housingalso includes an add-heat valve interface extending transversely fromthe compressor inlet. The cabin air compressor heat housing furtherincludes a diffuser actuator interface having a seal groove formed inthe body of the cabin air compressor heat housing. A ratio of a diameterof the compressor inlet to a diameter of the diffuser actuator interfaceis between 1.90 and 1.98. The method also includes inserting a sealingmember into the seal groove of the diffuser actuator interface. Adiffuser actuator is coupled to the diffuser actuator interface. Thesealing member is compressed in the seal groove between the diffuseractuator interface and the diffuser actuator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cabin air compressorassembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cabin air compressor heat housing;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the cabin air compressor heat housing of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cabin air compressorheat housing of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a portion of the partial cross-sectionalview of the cabin air compressor heat housing of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shown in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cabin air compressor(CAC) assembly 12, one or more of which may be used in an environmentalcontrol system 100 for an aircraft. The CAC assembly 12 compresses airflow 14 received at a compressor inlet 16. The CAC assembly 12 is drivenby a CAC motor 28 operably connected to the CAC assembly 12 via a CACshaft 30. The CAC motor 28 is an electric motor having a rotor 32rotatably located at the CAC shaft 30. The CAC motor 28 also includes astator 36 having a plurality of stator windings 38 disposed radiallyoutboard of the rotor 32. The CAC assembly 12 also includes one or morebearings 40 to support rotation of the CAC shaft 30. In exemplaryembodiments, a compressor rotor 62 is operably connected to the CACshaft 30 and rotates about an axis X as driven by the CAC motor 28. Thecompressor rotor 62 compresses the air flow 14 to provide a compressedflow 80 in compressor volute 66 of a cabin air compressor housing 68 anddirected to a compressor outlet 78.

A cabin air compressor heat housing 34 is coupled to the cabin aircompressor housing 68 and includes the compressor inlet 16 configured toreceive the air flow 14. The compressor inlet 16 extends from a body 94of the cabin air compressor heat housing 34. The cabin air compressorheat housing 34 supports a diffuser actuator 82 at a diffuser actuatorinterface 84. The diffuser actuator 82 further controls the compressedflow 80. As depicted in FIG. 2, the cabin air compressor heat housing 34also includes an add-heat valve interface 86 configured to receive anadd-heat valve 88 depicted schematically in FIG. 2. The add-heat valveinterface 86 extends transversely from the compressor inlet 16. Theadd-heat valve 88 may supply heated air returned from the compressedflow 80 to the compressor inlet 16 to enhance compressor performance ofthe CAC assembly 12.

Also as can be seen in FIG. 2, the diffuser actuator interface 84 of thecabin air compressor heat housing 34 includes a seal groove 90 that isconfigured to receive a sealing member 92, such as an 0-ring. Thediffuser actuator interface 84 and the seal groove 90 are formed in thebody 94 of the cabin air compressor heat housing 34. The sealing member92 controls leakage flow between the diffuser actuator interface 84 andthe diffuser actuator 82. Collectively, the compressor inlet 16, thebody 94 of the cabin air compressor heat housing 34, the add-heat valveinterface 85, and the diffuser actuator interface 84 are formed of aunitary structure, such as a single casting with machined details.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5, in an embodiment, a diameter D1 of thecompressor inlet 16 is about 4.555 inches (11.57 cm). A diameter D2 ofthe diffuser actuator interface 84 is about 2.347 inches (5.96 cm). Adiameter D3 of the add-heat valve interface 86 is about 3.317 inches(8.43 cm). A width W1 of the seal groove 90 is about 0.135 inches (0.34cm). A depth D4 of the seal groove 90 is about 0.086 inches (0.22 cm).

In an embodiment, a ratio of the diameter D1 of the compressor inlet 16to the diameter D2 of the diffuser actuator interface 84 is between 1.90and 1.98. A ratio of the diameter D1 of the compressor inlet 16 to thediameter D3 of the add-heat valve interface 86 is between 1.35 and 1.40.A ratio of the diameter D3 of the add-heat valve interface 86 to thediameter D2 of the diffuser actuator interface 84 is between 1.40 and1.42. A ratio of the diameter D2 of the diffuser actuator interface 84to the width W1 of the seal groove 90 is between 16.71 and 18.11. Aratio of the width W1 of the seal groove 90 to the depth D4 of the sealgroove 90 is between 1.44 and 1.71.

A process of installing the cabin air compressor heat housing 34 in theCAC assembly 12 includes coupling the cabin air compressor heat housing34 to the cabin air compressor housing 68 of the CAC assembly 12.Sealing member 92 is inserted into the seal groove 90 of the diffuseractuator interface 84 of the cabin air compressor heat housing 34. Thediffuser actuator 82 is coupled to the diffuser actuator interface 84.The sealing member 92 is compressed in the seal groove 90 between thediffuser actuator interface 84 and the diffuser actuator 82. Theadd-heat valve 88 is coupled to the add-heat valve interface 86 of thecabin air compressor heat housing 34 to supply heated air returned fromthe compressed flow 80 to the compressor inlet 16.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with onlya limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood thatthe invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, theinvention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of theinvention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention mayinclude only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, butis only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A cabin air compressor heat housing comprising: a compressor inletextending from a body of the cabin air compressor heat housing; anadd-heat valve interface extending transversely from the compressorinlet; and a diffuser actuator interface formed in the body of the cabinair compressor heat housing, wherein a ratio of a diameter of thecompressor inlet to a diameter of the diffuser actuator interface isbetween 1.90 and 1.98.
 2. The cabin air compressor heat housing of claim1, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the add-heat valve interface to thediameter of the diffuser actuator interface is between 1.40 and 1.42. 3.The cabin air compressor heat housing of claim 2, wherein a ratio of thediameter of the compressor inlet to the diameter of the add-heat valveinterface is between 1.35 and 1.40.
 4. The cabin air compressor heathousing of claim 1, further comprising a seal groove formed in thediffuser actuator interface.
 5. The cabin air compressor heat housing ofclaim 4, wherein a ratio of the diameter of the diffuser actuatorinterface to a width of the seal groove is between 16.71 and 18.11. 6.The cabin air compressor heat housing of claim 5, wherein a ratio of thewidth of the seal groove to a depth of the seal groove is between 1.44and 1.71.
 7. The cabin air compressor heat housing of claim 1, whereinthe compressor inlet, the body of the cabin air compressor heat housing,the add-heat valve interface, and the diffuser actuator interface areformed of a unitary structure.
 8. A cabin air compressor assemblycomprising: a cabin air compressor heat housing coupled to a cabin aircompressor housing, the cabin air compressor heat housing comprising: acompressor inlet extending from a body of the cabin air compressor heathousing; an add-heat valve interface extending transversely from thecompressor inlet; and a diffuser actuator interface formed in the bodyof the cabin air compressor heat housing, wherein a ratio of a diameterof the compressor inlet to a diameter of the diffuser actuator interfaceis between 1.90 and 1.98.
 9. The cabin air compressor assembly of claim8, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the add-heat valve interface to thediameter of the diffuser actuator interface is between 1.40 and 1.42.10. The cabin air compressor assembly of claim 9, wherein a ratio of thediameter of the compressor inlet to the diameter of the add-heat valveinterface is between 1.35 and 1.40.
 11. The cabin air compressorassembly of claim 8, further comprising: a diffuser actuator; a sealingmember; and a seal groove formed in the diffuser actuator interface,wherein the diffuser actuator is coupled to the diffuser actuatorinterface and the sealing member is compressed in the seal groovebetween the diffuser actuator interface and the diffuser actuator. 12.The cabin air compressor assembly of claim 11, wherein a ratio of thediameter of the diffuser actuator interface to a width of the sealgroove is between 16.71 and 18.11.
 13. The cabin air compressor assemblyof claim 12, wherein a ratio of the width of the seal groove to a depthof the seal groove is between 1.44 and 1.71.
 14. The cabin aircompressor assembly of claim 8, wherein the compressor inlet, the bodyof the cabin air compressor heat housing, the add-heat valve interface,and the diffuser actuator interface are formed of a unitary structure.15. A method of installing a cabin air compressor heat housing in acabin air compressor assembly comprising: coupling a cabin aircompressor heat housing to a cabin air compressor housing of the cabinair compressor assembly, the cabin air compressor heat housingcomprising: a compressor inlet extending from a body of the cabin aircompressor heat housing; an add-heat valve interface extendingtransversely from the compressor inlet; and a diffuser actuatorinterface having a seal groove formed in the body of the cabin aircompressor heat housing, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the compressorinlet to a diameter of the diffuser actuator interface is between 1.90and 1.98; inserting a sealing member into the seal groove of thediffuser actuator interface; coupling a diffuser actuator to thediffuser actuator interface; and compressing the sealing member in theseal groove between the diffuser actuator interface and the diffuseractuator.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein a ratio of a diameter ofthe add-heat valve interface to the diameter of the diffuser actuatorinterface is between 1.40 and 1.42.
 17. The method of claim 16, whereina ratio of the diameter of the compressor inlet to the diameter of theadd-heat valve interface is between 1.35 and 1.40.
 18. The method ofclaim 15, wherein a ratio of the diameter of the diffuser actuatorinterface to a width of the seal groove is between 16.71 and 18.11. 19.The method of claim 18, wherein a ratio of the width of the seal grooveto a depth of the seal groove is between 1.44 and 1.71.
 20. The methodof claim 15, wherein the compressor inlet, the body of the cabin aircompressor heat housing, the add-heat valve interface, and the diffuseractuator interface are formed of a unitary structure, and furthercomprising: coupling an add-heat valve to the add-heat valve interface.